Best Travel Gadgets for 2017

Spring is in the air and the sun is shining, which means now's the time to start planning those summer holidays. So whether you're going on a long flight, city break or somewhere a bit more local, I've picked out a few of the best travel gadgets for 2017. There's something to keep the kids occupied on long journeys, something to make those summer beach parties even more memorable, Sat-navs to ensure you don't get lost and even home security gizmos to give you a little peace of mind when you're away.

TomTom Start 25...

Going for a long drive this summer? You're going to need a good sat-nav to get you where you need to go. Fortunately, you're spoiled for choice.

The TomTom Start 25 features a 5" resistive touchscreen, as well as lots of handy features such as lifetime map updates, advanced lane guidance (so you never miss your turn), speed camera alerts, parking assists and much more. You can grab one from Amazon for £92.99.

If you're willing to spend a little more money, then the Garmin Nuvi 2699LMT-D will cost you £187.46 from Amazon, but this includes a larger 6" screen, which is pre-loaded with a whopping 45 different European countries. Real-time traffic updates give you the inside scoop on any delays and jams, which means you can quickly and easily find another route.

Nintendo Switch...

While a gaming device might not seem like the most obvious travel companion, the Nintendo Switch does things a little differently, giving users a blockbuster home console experience, combined with a premium handheld one.

You can use plug the Nintendo Switch into the TV (maybe at your hotel), play it like a handheld console (like the 3DS or PlayStation Vita) or even detach the two controllers and play multiplayer on the touchscreen.

And the versatile Nintendo Switch will only get better, especially with multiplayer gems likes Mario Kart, FIFA, Splatoon and Street Fighter 2 all still to come. That's on top of heavyweights like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is almost guaranteed to be crowned 2017's game of the year.

Turns out you can put a price on peace of mind, especially if you fork out the the £160 it costs for a Nest Cam Security Camera.

The Nest Cam can be placed anywhere in the home, and provides a 130° wide-angle view of your living room, hallway, bedroom, or anywhere else that's littered with valuables.

I've tried the Nest Cam before, and was really impressed by the image quality. The Nest Cam delivers super clear 1080p HD imagery in both day and night, so you won't accidentally call the police when the neighbour pops over to water the plants.

You can buy the Nest Cam Security Camera for £159 from the Argos website. There's also a subscription service, which starts at £8 a month. The Nest Aware subscription gives you up to 30 days continuous recording and other benefits like regular people alerts.

Master Lock Connected Padlock...

And speaking of home security, the Master Lock will keep your valuables safe and secure with a little help from your smartphone, Bluetooth technology and a boron alloy shackle that's resistant to bolt cutters.

You don't need a key or combination code to open it, just connect to your smartphone and the free Master Lock Vault app and you're in.

Depending on the size, you can even use this for your suitcase or bag, which means you don't have to worry about thieves rifling through your things when you're not around.

Oh, and just in case you were worried, you can still unlock the padlock with a combination code (in case your phone runs out of battery) and you can share access with other people, which means friends can still check in while you're away.

With the Bluetooth Tile Mate tracker, you can almost guarantee that you won't lose your luggage when you go away.

The miniature Bluetooth device can be attached to your bag's zipper (or inserted into a pouch), before being paired with your smartphone for tracking purposes.

If your bags go missing, you can use the app to set off an alert. If your bags and keys are out of your hearing range, you can even use the app to see their last location. Likewise, if you lose your phone, you can press the Tile Mate to make it ring.

The UE Boom 2 is a highly-rated Bluetooth speaker, which is festival-proof, beach-proof and all-night long proof! How exactly? Well, it's waterproof for starters, which makes it ideal for holiday beach parties.

It's also light enough to carry with you wherever you go, and comes with a whopping 15-hour battery, so you can listen all night long.

The sound is also of the highest quality, thanks to the 360-degree speaker, which blasts music in every direction. And just in case the speaker isn't loud enough for you, you can pair it with another UE speaker for added power.

At the time of writing, the UE Boom 2 is just £99.99 at Currys, where it can be purchased in multiple different colours.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite...

Reading a good book by the pool sound like my idea of heaven, not to mention all that reading you can get done on a long flight. This is why I'm never without my Kindle Paperwhite.

The Kindle Paperwhite can be read in bright sunshine (without any glare) or during the dead of night. This is thanks to the backlit e-ink screen, which reads like real paper, regardless of the time of day.

The Kindle stores thousands of books, has a huge library of free and paid literature, and has a battery that lasts nearly two months on one charge. What's not to like?

The Kindle Paperwhite can be picked up from Amazon for £109.99. Also, to make it completely holiday-friendly, why not pick up the ITgut waterproof and shockproof case? For an additional £21.99 from Amazon, this case will ensure your Kindle stays functional, even if you drop it in the pool, or spill a drink over it.

Olloclip Active Lens Set for iPhone 7...

Now, the iPhone 7 camera is no slouch, but attach one of these Olloclips and you'll be able to shoot farther and wider than ever before.

All you've got to do is attach it to your iPhone 7 camera and you'll get the benefits of 2x optical zoom and "action camera" field of view.

Essentially, you're getting the best bits of those costly and sizeable DSLR cameras, except you don't have to lug it around with you all day.

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About Liam Martin

I love gadgets, gizmos and games and look forward to a future where humans and robots can co-exist peacefully. My most wanted list includes an Apple/Samsung smartphone hybrid, a flying Lamborghini and a virtual reality-based job where I don't have to leave the house.